Code of Conduct for students The personal appearance and dress of students must fit in with the norms

s generally accepted by the community served by school, and as set out in the printed uniform prescriptions. Students must attend school for the full academic day. They may not leave the school site without the permission of the principal. If a student is absent, his or her parents must furnish the principal with an acceptable reason for the absence. Students are required to obey the reasonable instructions of the staff. While under the supervision of the school, a student may not damage or endanger the physical welfare of another person. No weapons, implements or materials which can cause bodily harm may be in the possession of students at school or while under the supervision of the school. Students may not have in their possession, nor use, cigarettes or any tobacco products, other drugs, alcoholic beverages or objectionable printed or recorded matter or objects, when on the schools premises, when in school uniform or when under the supervision of the school. School property, or the property of others, may not be taken, damaged, defaced or polluted. Students must participate in the educational programme prescribed by the education department, unless exemption has been granted by the department. Students may not use any facilities or equipment of the school, including those for sport, nor be on the school grounds, outside school hours without the principals permission. Students may not bring discredit to the name of their school in any way.

 Students may not sexually harass, bully, fight with, or tease other students or members of the school community. Classroom Conduct Every student is expected to: be punctual: Arrive at class on time so that you are ready to start the lesson. Lateness is inconsiderate, because it disrupts the efforts of both your teacher and your fellow pupils / students. Take out what you need for your lesson as soon as you get to your desk or table. Do not wait to be told to do so. This shows that you are mature, responsible and self motivated. Be prepared: Bring what is needed to the lesson, the books, stationery and writing implements you need, your homework done and, most importantly, be ready to learn and contribute to the lesson. Be respectful: Stand when an adult enters the room. You do this to show respect for the adult concerned. Wait for either your teacher or the adult concerned to ask you to sit. Greet your teacher at the start and of each lesson. Respect your teacher and your peers by not talking when your teacher is talking. If you want to contribute, raise your hand and wait for your teacher to invite you to contribute. Listen to your peers during classroom discussion, and wait your turn to make your contribution.

 Do not pack away your books until the teacher has indicated that the lesson is over. This disrupts the lesson and is inconsiderate to your peers and your teacher Respect the property of others and of the school. Do not deface desks, steal drawing pins, mess with chalk, fiddle with the overhead projector or borrow things without permission. Keep your classroom neat and clean. Put litter and paper scraps in the litter bin, not in the desk or on the floor. No one likes to work in a dirty or untidy environment. Be responsible: Take responsibility firstly for yourself and for your own behaviour. Encourage your peers to do the same. Be supportive: Do what you can to make everyone feel happy and accepted in your class. Always be willing to widen your circle of friends to ensure that no one is left out. With the permission of your teacher, help those who may be struggling.

Cell phone Policy While the school acknowledges that cell phones have become an important and useful means of communication, it is also aware of the fact that their use and abuse, particularly by children, pose social, ethical and safety consequences. The school would prefer students not to have cell phones in their possession while they are at school or in school uniform for the following reasons:

 Students who carry or use cell phones in public, particularly when travelling to and from school, have become the targets of criminals who accost them and rob them of their cell phones and other possessions. These attacks occur most frequently when students are seen using their cell phones, particularly if they are expensive and/or latest models of sought after brands. Theft of cell phones at school from bags and blazers is a persistent problem. Students are careless with their cell phones and leave them lying around or in blazers and bags which are left unattended. Lost and mislaid cell phones are frequently claimed to be stolen when this is not the case. Cell phones can be used to cheat in examinations and tests. For this reason, no cell phones are permitted in examination venues or in teaching venues when tests and examinations are written. This same policy applies to the externally set national examinations. Cell phones are increasingly multi-functional, offering an array of features which are designed to attract and entertain users. The ready availability of these features means that students with cell phones tend to access and use these features in the classroom, becoming distracted from their work. Students with low levels of self-discipline, poor concentration and/ or a poor work ethic are more likely to become distracted by these features. Cell phones allow students unlimited access to salacious and age-inappropriate material. Cell phones make students vulnerable to approaches by undesirable individuals or groups including criminals and paedophiles. Cell phones may carry private and personal material, including photographs, video clips, voice messages and personal details which may become accessible by undesirable individuals and groups when cell phones are lost, borrowed or stolen.

The school will not take responsibility for the theft or loss of any cell phone brought to school, no matter what the circumstances. This includes the loss or theft of cell phones that may be handed in to teachers and/or coaches for safekeeping, as well as to cell phones which have been confiscated from students who use them in defiance of the school rules. Students who, despite the schools policy, insist on bringing a cell phone to school are required to ensure that it is: turned off (not on silent) and is not visible while they are in the school building is not on their person when they are writing any test and not in the examination venue when they are writing examinations. The school will not, in principle, under any circumstances engage parents in discussions resulting from complaints parents have received from their children by cell phone during the school day. Drug Policy aim of this policy is to encourage all students to abstain from using any drugs (other than those which are medically prescribed), including alcohol and tobacco. This document sets out the schools policy on drugs, alcohol and tobacco use. Every student and his/her parents or guardians are required to sign it as acknowledgement that they have read and understood it, and that they have agreed to abide by this policy. 1. Position. The school does not tolerate the use or possession of any illegal or prohibited substances the possession of drug-related equipment such as cigarette papers, pipes, etc. the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances the inappropriate use of solvents, inhalants and similar agents the consumption of alcohol and the smoking of tobacco.

2. Procedure. Anybody found in possession of, or using, any of these substances either on school property, or when in school uniform, or when under the supervision of the school, or attending school-related functions, including sports outings and social events, will be subject to the following procedure: The student will first be interviewed by the school counsellor or senior member of staff to determine the nature and extent of the students involvement with drugs (casual experimentation, habitual use, drug dependence, dealing, etc.) and to determine the appropriate response. The students parents will be informed of the students involvement, and they will be required to attend a meeting at school to discuss the matter. If, on the basis of the interview, the school considers it necessary to refer the student to an agency for professional drug counselling or other treatment, the parents will be informed of this. The cost of such treatment shall be paid for by the students family. In instances where parents are unable to afford treatment, the student will be referred to appropriate state health facilities or agencies. Disciplinary action against the student may follow if, in the opinion of the school, this is warranted by the nature of the students involvement with drugs. The results of such disciplinary action may include the provision of support, including professional drug counselling, to a range of punishments which may include expulsion. In the case of illegal substances, the matter will be reported to the Ghana Police Service. Dealing in drugs or involving others in their use will normally result in a recommendation that the student be expelled from the school. 3. Addiction, treatment and help. The school understands that addiction is a medical problem, and that certain drug use may need support and treatment rather than punishment. Any student who asks for, or is identified as needing, assistance in coping with drug use, will not be punished, but will be expected to attend appropriate counselling.

4. Confidentiality. All approaches by any student to any of the schools staff will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Teacher Code of Good Practice Dress As it is the policy of this school to treat teachers as professionals, it is believed that teachers will maintain a standard of dress and grooming which is appropriate to their standing as professionals. However, because expectations may differ from school to school, this school provides the following guidelines to assist staff in determining what constitutes appropriate dress. Dress as a professional. This means that your appearance is neat and you are well groomed, your dress is more conservative than avant-garde, and more formal than casual. On formal occasions, including assemblies, male members of staff are expected to wear a jacket. Male members of staff need to wear ties ( the official school colour is red tie and male members are to wear white shirts on Mondays and Wednesdays, blue shirts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and purple on Fridays). Golf shirt style collars are not permitted. Female members of staff should not have bare shoulders or a bare midriff. Teachers are not permitted to teach in jeans, T-shirts or slip-slops. Sports coaches, and teachers who are responsible for coaching school sport and physical activities as part of Life orientation, should wear the appropriate sports kit for the sport concerned, or a tracksuit and track shoes.

Punctuality Teachers need to arrive at school 10 minutes before the start of the formal school day and to remain at school until 10 minutes after the end of the formal school day. If a teacher needs to leave the school site he/she needs to obtain the permission of the principal or a senior member of staff. When a teacher leaves the school site he/she must inform the office before he/she leaves and again when he/she returns. This done in the interests of school safety and security, in case of emergencies. Teachers need to arrive at their classes so that the lesson can start punctually at its scheduled start time. Working hours Teachers need to be at school for the full school working day. In addition, teachers are expected to coach or manage a minimum of three hours of cocurricular activity each week on the days and times determined by the school. Attendance at school functions All teachers are expected to attend specified school functions during the course of the year. These functions are normally set at the start of the year. If changes are made, a minimum of one months notice will be given of these changes. Teachers are strongly encouraged to support their colleagues and their students by attending other school functions and activities, including sporting and cultural events held at school in the afternoons and evenings.

Participation in co-curricular activities

 All teachers are expected to assist on a weekly basis with at least one sporting activity each term. All teachers are expected to assist with at least one school society or cultural activity. School societies or cultural activities should meet or hold events or functions at least once every two weeks. Meeting schedules and deadlines Teachers are expected to attend all scheduled meetings listed on the school timetable: these include staff meetings, subject meetings and meetings for professional development.

School Tour Policy Purpose and value Touring and hosting tours have educational value, and are considered to be an important feature in the schools wider extra-curricular programme. Sports tours motivate players and stimulate improvement in our sport. Cultural tours enrich the curricular programme. Both types of tours have valuable social benefits and promote school spirit. Staff leadership of a tour is of the utmost importance. A tour can be considered only if experience and competent staff are available to lead it. A proposal about the staff to lead a tour should first be discussed with the principal. As a rule, two members of staff should accompany a tour. For large groups, a minimum of one teacher per 30 students, excluding the tour leader, is desirable. Staff leaders are required to be familiar with the policy document Guidelines for staff in charge of a tour.

Sport tours are undertaken by first teams. Under-age teams are, generally speaking, not permitted to go on tour. Invitations to tournaments will be considered on an ad hoc basis by the senior management team. Funding of tours A basic principle is that parents of tour members are responsible for meeting the costs of their child. Staff supervising the tour are not required to meet any costs. Their expenses must be provided for in the tour budget. Provision will be made to assist students whose families are unable to contribute their full cost. Mini tours (weekend or overnight) relatively close to the school, and recreational expeditions such as river trips, hikes, etc., should be self supporting, and are not subsidised from the tour bursary fund. Expenses in hosting tours are met from the tour bursary fund. Fund-raising A major school fund raising effort may be held from time to time to provide revenue for the tour bursary fund. Part of PTA levies goes to the tour bursary fund. A particular tour group may embark on fund raising projects, subject to the approval of the principal. The following shall apply: Tickets may be sold to raise funds for the particular tour only with the express permission of the principal.

School Sport Policy Why do we play sport? We play sport for healthy recreation and enjoyment. Sport also has great educational value in that it not only promotes physical fitness, but also encourages teamwork and the development of self control, co-operation, loyalty, unselfishness, determination and leadership. Sometimes pupils who begin their school careers as rather selfish and self-centred individuals gradually develop into far more balanced personalities as a result of participation in team games. On the principle that sport is good for the individual and good for the school, every able-bodied pupil should play sport at school. It is also very much in the pupils interest to play for his or her school rather than for an outside club. The students of our school thoroughly enjoy taking part in inter-school matches. Competition is an important part of sport, and there is nothing wrong with this - as long as such competition produces enjoyment and not ill-feeling. Inter-school matches are not worthwhile if they cause hostility and strained feelings between players or between schools. Maintaining standards Standards of sporting behaviour have been declining generally. Poor sportsmanship invariably spoils the game and creates bad feelings among players as well as spectators. We must try to ensure that the general lowering of standards of sportsmanship does not filter into the various sports offered at our school. When we play our games, we play to win. However, sport is being spoilt today by the tendency to play to win at all costs. Thus dishonesty, over-robustness, displays of temper, intimidating and ridiculing the umpire, disputing the referees decision, fighting, gamesmanship and uncalled-for behaviour on the part of team supporters have all become an unfortunate part of the sporting scene. Some of our international

and local sportsmen set a very poor example for young players by indulging in these practices. This kind of bad sportsmanship must not be allowed to creep into our games. A sport disciplinary committee run by the sport council executive deals with misconduct incidents reported to them via the head of sport. There is a formal hearing, and punishment suitable to the offence is given. Principles and practices to be adhered to when playing matches Keep a sense of proportion. It is only a game not a major confrontation. It is not the end of the world if the match ends in defeat for us. We should try to play a good game and to enjoy it, but we should certainly not adopt the attitude that we must win at all costs. Give of your very best. Practise hard and play hard. Do not give in if the tide turns against you in a match rather accept it as a challenge to come back. Make yourself familiar with the rules and stick to them. Do not try to gain unfair advantage by breaking rules deliberately in the hope that you will get away with it this is downright dishonest. Accept the referees decision without question or hesitation. Do not show disagreements, irritation or disgust. Even the best referees make mistakes or are sometimes unsighted. The referee is really doing you and the school a favour by controlling the match.